Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18
AN AMERICAN BEAUTY.

The rise of Mrs. Blackie Tanner in Eng
glish society can only be likened, for rapid
ity and brilliancy, to the fight of rocket.
Whether the smile can be carried any
further, the following narrative will suf-
fciently show.
Mrs. Blackie Tanners history COM
menced on board a homeward bound
Cunarder. She was not actually born on
board, but il is an understood thing that
American ladies, when transcendentallv
beautiful, have no antecedents. They are
born again, as it were, in crossing the At
lantic. Therefore, when We have ascer-
tanned that Mrs. Blackie Tanner duly paid
her fare as a saloon passenger by the I'm
bria, and brought with her at least double
the quantity OF luggage that prosperous
duchess would require, it is unnecessary to
push inquiries further back. Let us sup
pose that she rose from the sea in New
! ork harbor Just before the Cunarder
salled-like the American Venus that She
certainly was.
Mrs. Tanner, who, wherever she came
from, had been brought up with her ewes
open, crossed IN the autumn, when good
many English people worth knowing were
pOOhiiiE thtlI passages nOnleWarQ. She
was thus able 10 turn her six DAYS in the
saloon of the Umbria 10 very good account.
Before she landed at Liverpool she had
secured invitations to a couple of unex-
ceptlonal country houses, one of which
was Lord Oldentoff's hospitable mansion
in Suffolk. Lord Oldentoff was widower,
and had no notion of changing his con-
dition, but he fell, nevertheless, good
deal under the sway of the fair American.
and made himself useful to her in more
ways than one. Among other things he
wrote diplomatic little note commencing
her to the good graces of his cousin, Lady
Gertrude Haughton, who had reigned for
long period as one of the queens of London
society, and who was privileged to move in
that sacred inner circle of fashion which
has its center in Marlborough House Bv
sedulously improving her opportunities in
this and other ways Mrs. Blackie Tanner
made enough friends before the next Lon
don season opened to insure her a prosper
Gus debut in the metropolis, and once
launched there her beauty, talents and
knowledge of the world soon did the rest.
In her upward career, however. she owed
nothing to the favor of Lady Gertrude
Haughton, the reason for which shall now
be explained.
BY dint OF constant circumspection in
her conduct and company, Lady Gertrude
HaughtOn had succeeded in achieving a
reputation for rigid exclusiveness which
was almost unique; in fact, by many com.
petent judges, to be on Lady Gertrudes
visiting list was regarded as an even more
satisfactory social testimonial than to have
kissed the hand of The sovereign or dined
at the table of the heir-apparent 1t need
hardly be said, therefore, that Lady Ger
trude was not the person to accept an aspi-
rant for social eminence on mere certifi-
cate from a vagrant ncbleman that he had
picked up this lady on the deck of an At
lantic steamer, and found her as charming
as she was beautiful. Her ladyship made
an agreeable reply to Lord Oldentof7s let
ter, but she determined that she would per
sonally investigate the fair American be-
fore committing herself
1t was not long before an opportunity of
so doing presented itself, in the shape of an
invitation to a certain Mrs. Catherine s.
where the new beauty was to be on view.
BY this time Lady Gertrnde's interest in
Mrs. Backie Tanner was stimulated by
the reports which had reached her of that
ladys marvellous destinations. She accord
ingly swallowed certain antipathies toward
Mrs. Gatherum, and went to inspect the
American wonder. On entering the room,
her ladyship was pleased to meet an init
mate acquaintance of her own from the
United States, in the person of Mr. South
ern Polo, the great traveller, who had Ia ely
taken up his abode in this country. This
gentleman Lady Gertrude soon contrived to
take aside into a corner where they could
discuss the guest Of the evening without
interruption.
She is very beautiful" said her Lady,
ship, glancing towards the spot where Mrs
Blackle Tanner stood in the center of an
admiring group. You have every right
TO be proud of your countrywoman, Mr.
Polo
There could be no question about this
Mrs. Blackie Tanner was quite as beautiful
as rumor represented her, and perhaps
more so; but it was pulling kind OF
beauty, too, far removed from that of the
ordinary Yankee belle, and yet in some I'M
definable way Enthusiastically American
She was dark almost to fault, with a pro-
fusion Of the hair which noYelists call blue
black, and features strongly marked, but
beautifully modelled. Though above the
average hight, she moved with a grace and
dignity which, il gifts of nature, we're not
those which are often bestowed on natures
children i'll the Old World. Her features
too had something of the We're de We're re-
pose about them, but this was neutraized
by the fire and vivacity in her eyes,
which were rather deeply set and keen as
hawks.
at is a very unusual type of beauty. :"
said Lsdy Gertrude. Where does She
come irOuf'
have heard the question asked dozen
times and | know no more than your
Ladyship,' replied Mr.. Polo. And yet.
oddly enough, l am convinced that have
seen her before"
a wish you could tell me where. MI.
Polo. am particularly interested in this
lady"
- believe | met her somewhere in the
West, but | cannot recall the circumstances
My friend Petersen would recognize her,
have no doubt l VIII send him her photo
graph. They are 10 be had at any shop
Il hope you will not take that trouble
on account of what l said, observed Lady
Gertrude.
But, nevertheless, on the following morn
ing Mr. Polo despatched a copy of the new
beauty's photograph to Mr.. Petersen, who
had been the companion of his travels
The truth was that he himself felt not .
little Curiosity about Mrs. Backie Tanners
earlier history. having watched with some
amusement the success in English society
of two or three of his fair compatriots
who, like the prophets, bad been entirely
without honor in their own country In
the course of mail. or two he got bis an
swer, and tlaen he remem bered Mrs. BIaekie
Tanner well enough. He did not convey
the whole Of his information to Lady Ger
trude, but be told her enough when they
next met "a decide her that she could not
act upon Lord 9ldentof' 5 reeoInE2 endation.
Her LadyShip was even induced 10 take
still stronger step, and one which involved
har in no slight Inconvenience and annoy
aEee.
Lady Gertrude, IS already intima;sd, was
one of those favored mortals who are per-
Hlitse5 to hobnob lak appointed times and
at z respectful dista1ce) with the fixture
sovereign of these realms. 1t was her
privilege to entertain royalty at least cree
during tie season, and sn such occasions
it would BE difficult to say which was the
more fanltLassly select, the company or the
entertainment. Now, withis few days of
the above mentioned communication from
Ktr. Polo, an intimation was conveyed TO
Lady Gertrude ~ certain channel that
the presence OF Mrs. Blackie Tanner at her
ladyship's forthcoming reception would be
III. -, nor